Author Archives: Jon Kitley

2005 Year End Review

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(Originally posted on our old site on December 29, 2005)

2005  YEAR IN REVIEW

Well another year almost done and gone, and I have to say that this was a very mixed year for us. We did have quite a few highlights, which we will discuss shortly. But on a personal (and more importantly financial) standpoint, this year sucked. So we are very much so looking forward to ending this year and starting afresh! We have also set up some goals for ourselves for this website. More updates, more contests, and more fun. So let’s see what happens! We are working on a big update, including our Cry Wolf and Wolf Creek reviews, along with a couple of Soundtrack reviews as well. But instead of waiting until the whole thing is done, we’ll update what we get done each time, and go from there. Usually when I wait, it takes weeks to get everything done. So here’s what we got so far. Enjoy! Continue reading →

Archiving the Old Krypt

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File cabinetFor those who weren’t aware of it, I started Kitley’s Krypt back in October of 1998, using Microsoft Front Page. After many upgrades and computer replacements, Front Page wasn’t compatible with Microsoft’s latest version of Windows, so in early 2015, I moved the site to this WordPress Blog format. There was a link to the old site on the right, but not sure how many really went over there. I have been bringing reviews and such from the old site and posting them here every now and then.

But there is still about 16 years of the daily updates on the old site. Granted, the info is way outdated, but I kept it around because it does show not only the progression of the Krypt, but it is also kind of a neat look back into the past, almost like a diary of a horror fan!

For the last week or so, I’ve been working on bringing that content over to the WordPress site, so at least it would be all on the site location. My plan is simple. My Year End Review posts will be posted separately and tagged in that Category, so you can head right to that section to get an idea of what I was thinking about at the end of each year.

Then there will also be a Kryptic Archive section which will have a folder for each of those 16 years from the old site. Again, the information is outdated but at least it will give you a little step back in time, if you so care to start wandering. I know I have been having fun returning back to those years, seeing what I was posting about.

I’m not sure how this is going to work out, or even look exactly, but we’ll see before too long!

Thanks again for sticking around and continuing to follow the Krypt!

Weaver and The Brute Man

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scripts from the crypt brute manIn the latest volume of Tom Weaver’s Scripts from the Crypt series, No. 10 will cover the 1946 film The Brute Man. By Scott Gallinghouse, Dr. Robert J. Kiss, George Chastain, David Colton, Andrew J. Fenady, and Gary D. Rhodes, they give us a look into not only this film, it’s production and release, but there is also a biography chapter on Rondo Hatton himself.

Hatton, who became a B-Movie villain due to his particular looks that were caused by acromegaly, a disease that causes disfigurement in the hands, feet, and face. He appeared in films such as The Pearl of Death (1944), House of Horrors (1946), and his final film, The Brute Man.

It will be a very interesting read to learn more about this film, but especially more about Hatton himself. I’m sure he’d be thrilled to know that his name and likeness has become synonyms with Monster Kids around the world because of the Rondo Awards!

This has been released by BearManor Media and is available in a hardcover edition ($39.95) or a paperback edition ($29.95). You can order your copy at their website HERE.

Double Dose of Naschy Blu-Rays!

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After 3 1/2 decades after it’s release, you can finally get a legit copy of Paul Naschy’s 1983 epic The Beast and the Magic Sword, all thanks to Mondo Macabro! This is one of those Naschy titles that for some reason never made it to the states in a legitimate release, which is a damn shame since it is a great little flick. I mean, when is the last time you saw a werewolf battling samurais?

Not a lot of info is out about this release, other than it will be a 2K restoration from an original camera negative, and will feature an audio commentary by Rodney Barnett and Troy Guinn from the Naschycast! Those two things, besides that it is a Naschy film, are more than enough reasons to add this to your collection! They are aiming for a Aug/Sept release, with delivery in October.

Then this coming Monday, the 22nd, you will have the chance to order your copy of Naschy’s The Mummy’s Revenge that is coming out from Scorpion Releasing, that will be available through Ronin. Keep in mind, this will only be a limited edition run of 1500 and will not be sold in the usual retail markets, but only through Ronin. So make sure Monday, you are paying attention!

This version will be not only the HD version of the Spanish cut, but also an HD version of the longer Spanish cut as well. They both with have Spanish and English language options and subtitles. There will be an audio commentary by Troy Howarth and liner notes by Mirek Lipinski.

Discover the Horror Now Available

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Book Cover Art 22819Discover the Horror is now available to the world! You can order your copy on Amazon now (just by clicking HERE) or you can order it directly from us. Just click on the BUY THE BOOK link at the top of our site, right below the banner for all the details.

It will be about a week before we have physical copies in our possession, so depending on how long you want to wait, and if you want it signed, you could always get it quicker from Amazon. Your choice!

Also remember, that if you’re in the Chicago area, we are having our official Book Launch Party at the Music Box Theatre on Saturday the 27th! There will be a special screening of The Giant Claw at 4:45pm, and then there will be a short Q&A with me afterwards, before we move out to the lounge area where you can buy your copy of the book and get it signed, if you so desire! And no, there will no charge for the signing. Not now. Not ever.

We have a Facebook event posted for this HERE or you can get information from the event page at the Music Box and buy your ticket for the movie HERE.

Mystery Photo 7-15

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Monday morning and back on track with this week’s Mystery Photo. Last week’s definitely was a tough one, but we did get one correct answer sent it. That was from William Wilson and the movie was Dear Dead Delilah (1972), written and directed by author John Farris, and starring Agnes Moorehead. A very interesting little early ’70s tale of murder and mystery. Thanks to the fine folks at Vinegar Syndrome for putting this out on Blu-Ray!

So let’s not waste any time and get on to this week’s photo. This might be another tough one, but if you don’t know it, hopefully you seek it out. Because it is more than worth it. But first, as always, please do not post your answers here, so that others can have a chance at guessing. Just send your answers to us in an email, to jon@kitleyskrypt.com. Good Luck!

mp071519

 

Soundtrack Review: Crawlspace

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crawlspacecdCrawlspace
Released by Intrada
16 Tracks with a total running time of 35:54 min.
Music by Pino Donaggio

This movie has been a favorite of mine ever since my first viewing, being just blown away not only by Kinski’s underplayed psychotic performance (at least on the screen), but also the pretty deep terror that is hidden underneath the layers. So when we got this soundtrack and started to play it, images from the film immediately came to mind. Donaggio created such a unique but very familiar sound with the “Main Title” theme, mainly with the use of the keyboard. But what really makes an impact with the score is the opening track, “Falling From Grace With The World”, which comes into play several times throughout the score. Pretty haunting, really. Continue reading →

Drive-In Super-Monster Rama Spanish Style

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Frankenstein's Bloody TerrorWhile they haven’t announced the full lineup just yet, they have given us the 4 titles that will be playing Friday night. And if you’re a fan of Spanish horror, then you might want to start making plans.

On Friday, September 20th, they will be screening:

Frankenstein’s Bloody Terror (1968)
Dracula Great Love (1973)
The Vampires Night Orgy (1973)
The Dracula Saga (1973)

Not only will you get to see TWO Paul Naschy films, including the one that really started his career, you’ll get to see two other entertaining Spanish horror films as well!

This is all taking place at the Riverside Drive-In in Vandergrift, PA, on September 20th & 21st. We’ll post more information when it comes out, but you can also follow the Facebook page HERE.

Freddie Jones – Rest In Peace

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Freddie Jones - RIPMy all time favorite of Hammer’s Frankenstein series has always been Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed. Cushing’s performance as the deviant doctor is unparalleled. It is almost a shame that since Cushing is so good in this, that it takes away from some of the other performances, like that of Freddie Jones in the role of the Professor Richter, who is the unwilling recipient of a brain transplant. His tragic performance is heart breaking, especially has he goes to see his wife in the body of another man.

So it was sad news when heard of his passing yesterday. He had appeared in so many films and TV series, not to mention his work on the stage. He definitely made his mark in the horror genre, such as in The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970), Hammer’s Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973), and Old Dracula (1974). He also appeared in another favorite from my teenage years, Krull (1983). We had this at the theater I worked so I watched it more than a few times. Sure, might be cheesy today, but I still love it and Jones, once again, gives the audience a very emotional performance, especially when he meets his long lost love. Probably one of his most famous, was that in David Lynch’s The Elephant Man (1980).

He may be gone but I know us fans will keep his memory alive and well thanks to all the wonderful roles he brought to life for us over the years. Our thoughts go out to his friends and family.

Soundtrack Review: The Devil Rides Out

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devilridesout1cdThe Devil Rides Out
Released in 2000 by GDI Records
28 tracks with a total running time of 1:01:26 minutes
Music composed by James Bernard

Any fan of Hammer films should know the name of James Bernard. If not, start taking notes. Bernard was one of the main guys responsible for making Hammer films sound like they did. He created the music that surrounded the incredible colorful images that we were watching. Probably his most famous score was that of Horror of Dracula (just Dracula in the UK) where he would use the name of the film to create the main theme. The music is one of the things that let audiences know they were watching a Hammer film. Continue reading →